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September 29, 2017

AMC seeks more time to file report

<!– /11440465/Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>A petition in the Gujarat High Court on Thursday has opposed the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) plea that urged the court to extend the time limit to file a detailed inquiry report on bad roads. The petitioner has opposed it stating that the reasons cited by the corporation are false and contrary to what it had said in its earlier affidavit.The petitioner, Mustak Kadri, had contended that the roads were washed away in the first rains, and the people are still facing great difficulty. Following this, the court had issued an order directing AMC to file a detailed inquiry report before it.The second division bench of Justice MR Shah and Justice BN Karia is hearing the public interest litigation.In the last hearing, the corporation had submitted a vigilance department’s inquiry report but the detailed inquiry report which should include information about the approval of the tender, quality assessment of roads and the contractor is yet to be filed. This report was to be filed by October 4. In the averment appeal, the corporation submitted that it would keep filing the report in a phased manner.Petitioner’s advocate Amit Panchal opposed this citing that the corporation’s request is based on a false premise. The corporation claims to have taken samples of all roads, but its earlier affidavit states that 1,947 roads were constructed in the last 27 months, and out of those it had identified only 90 roads. Of these 90, samples were drawn from 13 and sent to FSL for testing. Only three test reports have come in so far. So, Panchal argued that the question which arises is that when did the corporation collect samples of all the roads.”If the samples are taken in phased manner and before that the roads will be resurfaced, then there won’t be any evidence left to be inquired into,” observed the court. The court asked the corporation to collect samples of all roads before they are resurfaced. It once again ordered AMC to probe into the nexus between officers and contractors and file a detailed report.The matter is kept for further hearing on October 4, when the corporation will move a fresh civil application with request.AMC’S CLAIMThe corporation claims to have taken samples of all roads, but its earlier affidavit states that 1,947 roads were constructed in the last 27 months, and out of those it had identified only 90 roads. Of these 90, samples were drawn from 13 and sent to FSL for testing.